The following is a list of websites that have been created by companies and have been considered by journalists, fact-checkers or researchers as distributing false news - or otherwise participating in misinformation or disinformation.
List
Alabama Power NameDomainStatusNotesSourcesAlabama News Centeralabamanewscenter.comActiveFounded by Alabama Power in 2015 and inspired by The Richmond Standard. Noted by The Guardian to have "overwhelmingly positive stories about [Alabama Power]", resulting in no news coverage by the outlet over environmental contamination by coal ash in Uniontown, Alabama, nor about repeated electric rate increases. During the 2010s and 2020s, many news reporters in major cities in Alabama had lost their jobs. According to Alabama Power's assistant treasurer, Brian George, the site is entirely funded by electricity customers in Alabama. According to Ike Pigott, Alabama Power communications strategist, the site is intended to stop the company's dependence on news outlets to spread its message. Does not disclose its ownership on articles that are spread by news outlets, Google News or Apple News.
All Perspectives Ltd. NameDomainStatusNotesSourcesGB Newsgbnews.comActivePromoted climate change denialism and repeatedly made false claims about COVID-19.
Banc de Binary NameDomainStatusNotesSourcescnn-trending.comcnn-trending.comDefunctImitated CNN.com, complete with the CNN logo. Pushed the Hawking Code scam. Domain expired.
Big News Network The following is a list of websites run by Midwest Radio Network or The Mainstream Media, two affiliated organizations based in Australia and the United Kingdom, respectively, that are both owned by Big News Network, which is based in Dubai. These sites have been described as pink slime. NameDomainStatusNotesSourcesDenmark SunLiverpool StarMunich MetroDescribes itself as a "news bulletin from Bavaria", but does not include a local address or the names of local reporters.Northern Ireland NewsParis GuardianScandinavia Times
Chevron NameDomainStatusNotesSourcesAmazon Posttheamazonpost.comActiveBased in Ecuador and operated by a public relations firm, Singer Associates, since 2009. Repeatedly attacked Steven Donziger due to lawsuits he filed against Chevron over oil drilling in Ecuador. Described on its website as promoting "Chevron's Views & Opinions on the Ecuador Lawsuit." Links to Juicio Crudo and El Oriente.El Orienteeloriente.comActivePrimarily targeting residents in the Ecuadorian Amazon, moved its disclaimer of Chevron funding from the bottom to the top of the webpage after contact by NPR and Floodlight. Links to the Amazon Post and Juicio Crudo.Juicio Crudojuiciocrudo.comActiveFocuses its coverage primarily on the lawsuit that Chevron had lost in Ecuador in 2011. Republishes press releases from Chevron in Spanish. Links to the Amazon Post and El Oriente.Permian Proudpermianproud.comActiveFully funded by Chevron. Accused by Gizmodo of having its purpose be "to help Chevron disseminate greenwashing information about the company," with NPR noting that many articles on its website appeared to be a corporate press release. Described by The Guardian as "a mixture of local news and propaganda". Author bylines are hidden in the website source code. One of the authors worked at a public relations firm as of 2022, and had previously written for The Richmond Standard. The geographic region that the website covers, the Permian Basin, has little-to-no news coverage in its Texas counties as of 2022.Richmond Standardrichmondstandard.comActiveFunded and fully owned by Chevron, and operated by a public relations firm, Singer Associates. One of the authors worked at Singer Associates as of 2022, and also writes for Permian Proud. Described by NPR and Floodlight as "consistently [toeing] the company line [about Chevron]" and an extension of a news desert in Richmond, California - a "news mirage" – where "stories are told — but with an agenda." Criticized for failing to report on a February 2021 pipeline rupture and November 2023 refinery flare that had polluted the air and water of the San Francisco Bay Area. Also criticized by the Los Angeles Times for not fully showing its funding disclaimer. Accused by local residents of being a "public relations response" to the 2012 fire at the Chevron Richmond Refinery. Miranda Green of Floodlight observed that the funding disclaimer appears on the homepage, but not on articles, which also do not disclose that the author works for Singer Associates, concluding that "misinformation continues to be part of the system." Accused by David Folkenflik of NPR of misleading framing and context omission by describing a air pollution lawsuit settlement as a mutual agreement.
Dietary supplement marketers Starting in 2011, the Federal Trade Commission, along with the State of Connecticut, filed complaints against several dietary supplement marketers, accusing them of creating fake news websites to advertise their products. Companies named in the lawsuits include Beony International, LeadClick Media, CoreLogic, LeanSpa, Sensa, L'Occitane, HCG Diet Direct, Sale Slash, Purists Choice, and Prisma Profits. The following is a list of websites promoted by these companies. NameDomainStatusNotesSourcesconsumers6-report.comconsumers6-report.comNews 6 News AlertsHealth News Health AlertsHealth 5 Beat Health Newschannel8health.comchannel8health.comdailyhealth6.comdailyhealth6.comonline6health.comonline6health.comdiet.com-wb4.netdiet.com-wb4.netdiet.com-8s9.netdiet.com-8s9.nethealthconsumerreviews.comhealthconsumerreviews.comhealthlifestylereview.comhealthlifestylereview.com
Eliminalia The following is a list of sites created by Eliminalia, a reputation management firm.